The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-24
OUT OF THE WILDS.
A Country Where the Three RS Are
Practiced 10 Kill Time.

THE nights at juneau, in Alasks,
are no longer than they are here"
said ex-Colleector Of the Port Of |
Sitka Peter French to San Fan
cisco Examiner reporter, but take |
the day and nights together they are
pretty long. To wear the dreary
hours away we study reading, writ
ing and arithmetic.
The ex. collector spoke in a cynical
vein. For three years he had been
buried in Alaska wilds, and it was
plain that he was glad to get out.
ITS mining couutry-that's
all" said he. 1T is rock ribbed and
rock bound. juneau is the liveliest
town in the Territory. 1t has 1000
white and 1000 Indian population,
and is building fifty new houses right
now. 1t is the Quitting point tor
the Yukon mines, and in every way
the most important town OF the coun-
try. Nobody etknows anything about
the progress thus far this year in the
Yukon region, for nobody has come
out OF there yet. Last year the mines
did very we'll. We think the future
will show that they have done better
this year.
"Times are not very lively at
Sitka. II has about 800 or 100
whites aud Russians and some 600
Indians. II is dull aud inactive.
Gov. Swineiord's paper, the Alaskan,
did not come out the week before l
left, and think it has died. The
Free Press, at juneau, is coming
along about as we'll as usual.
There is some important mining
news TO give you. The Treadwell
people on Douglas Island are in
creasing their plant from l2O Stamps
10 2i0. They have been crushing
300 tons q day hitherto for two years,
The new mine will make it 600
The ore runs from 81 to SD 4 ton,
and averages about ~.
"A Boston syndicate, headed BY
Thomas Knowles, is putting up q
160-stamp mill, also, on Dougla:
island, and building wharf. They
have good property there, which viii
pay very we'll. The same compan!
has property at Berne's bay, where
am also interested. The ore Their,
is Of an entirely different character
1t is richer by a great deal.
There are now about 100 stamps
all told, in Southeastern Alaska
Next year | think there will be a
least 500 or 1000, as considerable
capital is going in. This Bostol
firm expects TO put in 81 900 10
, this year, aud many people livin
there expect 70 put in a few thou
sands each. There will be q goo
; many new mines opened.
, The Indians are giving no troubl
: in Alaska. They are working In
|, dams. They are all Thlinkots, bu
! are subdivided into Chilkahts, Stick
q Gems, Yaktals, and so on. They ar
\ very peaceable.
9 81 don't think much Of Lieu
. Fred Schwatkas scheme 10 start
= big cattle ranch on the Aleutian Is
. ands. don't think il will worl
There may be sufficient area, an
the grass good. The climate, to,
would not interfere, since the war
waves Of the Pacific beat upon ]
but what would he do with his Gait
q after he had them raised2 II he NJ
y dertook 10 sell them, reckon |
: would find Nevada, California, al
three or four other States and teri
|, tories could undorbid him by ago,
RS deal. Mr.. Schwatka would have
J stand trihe In the way
freights. Then the sea is rough a
rs a good deal Of meat would be shak
!; of the cattlc's bones before they 3
s here.
* ut is raining heavily in Alas
D. now. IL rains a good deal Of &
time and was coming down thick a
ii fast when left"
H. Mr. French said he was very gl
r 10 get away. lie will remain he
is two or three days and then procc
T. 10 New York.